Valve-lifting tool



Nov. 23 1926.

1,608,176 w. F. HOBBS ET AL.

VALVE LIF'TING TOOL Filed May 11,- 1925 2 e fiee 1 Fig. 2.

I I/VI E/VTOIP Ww $4 5444) ATTORNBVS Nov. 23 1926. r 1,608,176

'w. F. HOBBS ET AL VALVE LIFTING TOOL Filed May 11, 1925 2 heets-Sheet 2 gwuzutozs Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

tenant UNITE STATES PATENT GFFIB WILLIS F. HOBBS AND JOHN A. ANDER$Q1\T, OF BRIDGEFORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNCRS TO THE BRIDGEPORT HARDW'ARE MANUFACTURING CGE-PORATION, OF BRIDGE- ]?ORI, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

VALVE-LIFTING TOOL.

Application filed May 11, 1825.

This invention relates to valve spring lifting tools, such as are used for compressing the springs of gas engine valves to facilitate removal of the valve, and has for an object to provide an improved construction of tool for this purpose which will be simple in construction, strong and durable and not likely to be easily gotten out of order in operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this character which will have a minimum number of parts, and which are so constructed and arranged that certain of the parts are duplicates of each other to reduce to a minimum the number of dilferent parts required, and to thus reduce the number of tools and dies necessary for manufacture.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a new and improved connection between the jaws and operating hand levers to maintain the jaws in parallel relation.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, we have devised the constructions il lustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, similar reference characters being employed throughout the various figures to indicate 3() corresponding elements. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tool constructed according to our invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section substantially on line 4.-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1

I showing a slightly different construction.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of the jaws shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 5, the jaw being shown in elevation, and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4; our improved tool comprises a pair of hand levers 10 pivoted together at 11, these levers having hand grips 12 extending rearwardly from said pivot and arms 13 extending forwardly from said pivot, but it will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 1 that these arms are diverging and are each located on the same Serial No. 29,428.

side of the pivot as is the corresponding handle or grip to which it is connected. The grip portions of these levers are bent to substantially U-shape in cross section with the open sides opposed to each other so that a smooth curved outer surface is provided for contact with the hands. It is also to be noted that the two hand levers are duplicates of each other in construction, but when assembled are reversed, and as the extensions from the U-shaped grips for the pivot 11 and the arms 13 are from an end of one side it will be apparent the reversal of these I two members will bring the grips substan tially in the same plane.

Pivoted to these levers for operation therebv is a pair of jaw supporting members 14, each of which carries a pair of forked jaws 15 for embracing the valve stem in the usual manner. The jaw supporting members are also substantially U-shaped in cross section for a portion of their length as shown at 16, and one side is extended and bent laterally in the plane of this side to form the extension 17. The free ends of the arms 18 are pivoted in the U-shaped portion of the jaw supports adjacent the forward end thereof, as shown at 18, suitable spacing elements 19 being provided to hold them in proper position, and the extensions 17 are pivoted at their free ends to the opposite handle lever onthe other or rearward side of the pivot 11, as shown at 20, this latter connection, however, being a pin and slot connection to allow for certain relative sliding movement between the extensions and the handle levers. By pivoting the hand levers and the jaw supporting members substantially as shown and inclining the slots 21 for the pivots 20, the jaws and their supports remain substantially parallel during the movements of the handles about their pivot. 'It will be noted that the two jaw supporting members are exact duplicates so that they may be made in the same tools and dies, but whenassembled they are reversed so that the jaws are in proper alignment. It will be apparent that by pivoting the members as shown as the free ends of the handles move together the jaws will move apart.

Means is provided for automatically securing the jaws at different spaced positions. A. convenient and simple means of doing this is shown on the drawing. This comprises acatch 22 of a fiat strip of metal having a serles of notches 23 in one side edge thereof and one of the handle members, the lower as shown in Fig. 1, is provided with a transversely extending pin 24 mounted in the side walls of this member and the catch member is pivoted on the upper pivot 20. A coiled spring 25 is connected to this catch above the pivot and also at its opposite ends to a pin 26 in the upper handle member. It will be apparent that this spring tends to swing the catch about its pivot clockwise as viewed in this figure to hold the notches in engagement with the pin 24. The upper edge oi the notches are convexly curved as shown so that the catch will slide 'lreely over the pin 24 as the handles are pressed. together but the other side of the notches is somewhat concaved so that the pin will seat in the same and prevent movement in, the opposite direc tion. The upper end of the catch is provided with a laterally extending thumb piece 27 which will release the catch by merely pressing downwardly thereon. The spring 25 is enclosed in the handle where it is out of the way and is concealed.

The construction shown in Figs. 5 to 8 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to das far as the operation is concerned, and the handle levers 28 are connected together in the same manner by the pivot 11. The means for mounting the jaws 29 is slightly different in that these jaws instead of being in one piece or integral with the jaw supporting members 30 comprise separate elements detachably connected to these members. The

jaw supporting members are, however, of

practically the same construction, as shown in Figs. 1 to t, aside from these jaws. They are substantially lJ-shape in cross section at their forward portions, as shown in Fig. 8, and one side is extended, to form the extension 31 the same as in the form. The forward members of these supports are pivoted to the arms 32 of the handle levers at 33 the same as in the first form and the ends of the extensions 31 are pivoted to the handle members at 34 through the inclined slots 35 the same as in the first form. It will be noted that asylfar as the operation of mov ing the jaws toward and from each other and maintaining them in substantially parallel relation is concerned this construction and arrangement is exactly the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to t.

The jaws 29 are provided with substantially Ll-shaped shanks 8 6 which are adapted to embrace the U-shaped portion of the jaw supporting members 30, and they are slidable longitudinally of these members. One side of the U'shaped portion of the members 30 is provided with a stop shoulder 37 adjacent its rear end while one side of the shank 36 is'provided with a lip or lug 38 extending under this edge, so that as the shank of the jaw is slid longitudinally of the support from its forward free end this lug or lip will engage the inner edge of the supporting memberand will prevent separation of the shank from the member by a lateral movement. Also the rearward movement of the shank will be limited by en gagen'ient ot the lug 38 with the stop shoulder 37. The jaws may be held against longitudinal movement by means of screws 39 threaded through the shanks, and the sup porting members. It will be apparent that by unscrewing these screws the jaws may he slid forwardly on. the members, as indi dated in. dotted lines in 5 and removed from the free ends of the supporting members. When in use the strain on the jaws tends to move them together or toward each other, and therefore, this strain taken by pressure of the shank on the top or outer walls of the supporting members and the engagement of the lugs 38 with the inner edge of these members, and therefore, there is no 7 strain on the screws 39,

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that this device is very simple and rugged in construction, and as the handle members are duplicates, and the jaws and the jaw supporting members are duplicates. the number otditferent parts required is reduced to a minimum.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of hand levers pivoted together having hand grips extending rearwardly from the pivot and arms extending forwardly from the pivot and located respectively on the same side of the pivot as the correspondhand grip, and a pair of jaw supporting members each having a body portion of substantially U-shape in cross section ar ranged with their open sides opposed and between the sides of which the. free ends of said arms extend and. toy which they are pivoted, one side wall oi: each of said supporting members being provided with an extension pivoted to the opposite lever rearwardly of the pivot between thelevers,

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of hand levers pivoted together having hand grips extending rearwardly from the pivot and diverging arms extending forr ly fr m he p v loca e pe t y on the same side of'the pivot as the corresponding hand grip, and a pair, of jaw supporting members each having a body por tion substantially U-shape in cross section arranged with their open sides opposedand between the sides of which the free ends of said arms extend and to which they are pivoted, said jaw supporting members having substantially parallel jaws projecting forwardly from'said latter pivots and converging extension arms projecting rearwardly from said pivots and pivoted respectively to the opposite levers rearwardly of the pivot between the levers.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of hand levers pivoted together having hand grips extending rearwardly from the pivot and arms extending forwardly from the pivot and located respectively on the same side of the pivot as the corresponding hand grip, a pair of jaw supporting members pivoted to the free ends of said arms and provided with extensions pivoted respectively to the opposite levers rearwardly of the pivot between the levers, said hand grips being substantially U-shape in cross section, a transverse pin mounted in one of said hand grips, and a catch pivoted to the other hand grip and provided with a series of notches along one edge to engage said pin, said catch being provided with a thumb piece extending outside the hand grip to which it is pivoted, and a spring tending to hold the catch in holding engagement with the pin.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of pivoted hand levers having hand grips extending rearwardly from the pivot and arms extending forwardly from the pivot, a pair of jaw supporting members pivoted to said levers, a pair of jaws formed to embrace a portion of said members and slidable longitudinally of said members, the jaws and members being provided with interengaging means to prevent lateral movement of the jaws, and detachable means to prevent said longitudinal movement.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of jaw supporting members, manual means for moving said members toward and from each other, a pair of jaws having shanks formed to embrace a portion of said members and slidable longitudinally of said members, the jaws and members being provided with interengaging means to prevent lateral movement of the jaws, and detachable means to prevent said longitudinal movement.

6. In a device of the character described, a pair of supporting members substantially U-shape in cross section for a portion of their length, pivoted hand levers for moving said members toward and from each other, a pair of jaws substantially U-shape in cross section to embrace said members and slidable longitudinally thereon, one side of the jaws being provided with a lug extending under one side edge of the corresponding member to prevent lateral movement of the jaw from the member, and detachable means for preventing said longitudinal movement.

7. In a device of the character described, a pair of hand levers pivoted together having hand grips extending rearwardly from the pivot and arms extending forwardly from the pivot and located respectively on the same side of the pivot as the corresponding hand grip, a pair of jaw supporting members having substantially parallel portions pivoted to the free ends of the arms and provided with extensions pivoted respectively to the opposite levers forwardly of the pivot between the levers, a pair of jaws slidable longitudinally on said parallel portions of the members, said jaws and members having interengaging means to prevent removal of the jaws by a movement laterally of the members, and detachable means to prevent said longitudinal movement.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

WVILLIS F. HOBBS. JOHN A. ANDERSON. 

